Some farmers in Bauchi have expressed worries over the negative impact of the poor rainfall pattern on crop yield in the cropping season.
On Tuesday, a cross-section of the farmers told journalists that poor rain patterns might impact crop yields negatively.
A maize grower, Samuel John, said most plants shrank due to a lack of moisture in the soil caused by a lack of rain. He said farmers who planted early lost their crops to lack of rain and hot weather conditions.
“Also, farmers are yet to plant in their farmlands in major maize growing areas, and those that planted with the hope of early arrival of the rains are now groaning in pain,” he said, adding that some of the affected farmers were preparing to replant their crops.
Another farmer, Lydia Bassam, attributed the delayed rain pattern to climate change realities.
She said the variances in rainfall in parts of the state would affect crop harvest and food security.
“With the delayed rain in parts of the state, we cannot have a bountiful harvest crop this season because some farmers may not begin planting until late July,” she said.
”Some farmers have given up planting at all; it is painful to see your crops wilt after planting,” she said.
Also commenting, Jafaru Illehlah, the programme manager of the Bauchi State Agricultural Development Programme (BSADP), said there was no cause for alarm, adding that it was too early to panic as the crops were still within the planting period.
”The plan of the farmers is to have July, August and September rainfall. I do not think that all hope is lost,” he said.
Mr Illehlah, therefore, advised farmers to plant early maturing crops to avoid losses at harvest.
(NAN)
